Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop

My name is Suz Gray.  I love all things paper & am known on the web as "craftysuz".  Welcome to my stop on the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop.  This is my 2nd year participating in this hop & wow has it grown.  Have you been enjoying the hop?  If you are one of my regular readers or just stumbled onto me I'm sure you will want to start from the beginning to see all the beautiful cards, be moved by touching stories, learn some new cardmaking & stamping techniques.  You can even enter to win some prizes along the way too.  The OWH Stars & Stamps blog is the beginning... find it here.  It starts at 10 am EST on Saturday & goes thru 6 pm EST on Monday.

The reason I support OWH is because it is a great way to use something I love to do to make it easier for our troops to stay in touch with their loved ones at home.  I feel like every card I make is a little thank you for the huge sacrifice they make for us.  I love the OWH blog posts where soldiers share what this organization means to them and their families.

We've had quite a few members of our family serve our country over the years.  Currently my cousin has a daughter & son serving in Afghanistan & Iraq.  I pray for Kayla & Vinnie's safety as they serve in dangerous places.

Spc. Vincent Hoover, a tanker with 1st Bn, 72nd Armor Regiment was awarded the silver star last October for his valor & quick actions when a grenade was thrown into his vehicle.  He threw it back out & all the lives in vehicle were saved.  See story here & here.  Our family is so proud of him!

Thank you to each service person & their families who sacrifice so much to serve our country.  On this Memorial Day I ask that you join me in saying a prayer for those families who have given the ultimate sacrifice of a loved one that they are comforted by the heroic way they lived & blessed by memories along with those who are currently in harms way.

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Now to share some cards.  I made a couple keeping with the Red, White & Blue - Missing You card theme requested by OWH.

For this card I used a Cuttlebug dry embossing folder to create the dotted texture on the kraft cardstock.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill & Bo Bunny); Paper (Pink Paislee & Making Memories); Punch (Stampin' Up); Die Cut (Nestabilities); Ink (Palette); String (Making Memories); Stamps (Ipppity Stamps & Unity Stamps); Trim (Wrights); Dry Embossing (Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder)

For this card I stamped on the plain navy background with Versamark ink & a flourish stamps by Ippity to give a subtle watermark look to the paper - in person it looks great and added a lot of interest.  I like to cut out stamped images like the butterfly here.

Supplies:  Paper (Creative Imaginations, K&Company, & The Paper Studio); Stamps (Unity Stamps & Ippity Stamps); Bling (Paper Reflections); Ribbon (Michaels' Dollar Bin); Ink (Palette & Versamark); Die Cut (Making Memories Slice - Think Pink)

I also did a photo tutorial showing how to make the layered watercolor flowers in the next two cards.  If you would like to see the tutorial please go to the next post.  I did this so people who didn't wouldn't have to scroll thru all those photos & instructions.

This flower is stamped multiple times then cut apart.  I used foam dimensional adhesive to add depth.  I dressed up an office supply tag with layers of stamping & distress ink.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill & Watercolor Paper); Paint (Grumbacher); Ink (Palette & Ranger Tim Holtz); Stamps (Ippity Stamps & Hero Arts); Die Cut (Nestabilities); Ribbon (American Crafts); Tag (Staples)

This card uses the same flower & watercolor painting but it is just a flat image.  The paint shading helps to give depth.  I stamped the leaves on canvas fabric for interest.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Bazzill & Watercolor Paper); Paint (Grumbacher); Ink (Palette & Colorbox); Stamps (Ippity Stamps & Unity Stamps); Twine (Making Memories); Canvas (Joann's); Dry Embossing (Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder)

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To thank you for stopping by... I have some prizes to offer you.

One winner will receive this "Lucky Me" mini album kit courtesy of Susan Moore - Owner of EMI Scrapbooking Store in Cumming, Georgia.  She also has an online Etsy store called creativekits4u where she sells these kits to customers all over the world.  This kit features Little Yellow Bicycle Lucky Me papers.  MSRP $22.

I sell Ippity Stamps (see tab at top of the page or click here for Memorial Day sale prices) so I am offering these 2 sets to one winner.

Leave a comment for your chance to win - sorry but open only to USA residents only due to shipping costs.  (make sure you leave an email address or way to get in touch with you).  Comments close at 6 pm EST on Monday & winner will be drawn by random number generator soon after that.

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Now head on over to the next stop on the blog hop.  Sharon has some pretty cards to share with you. 

2nd Anniversary Celebration-6 Winners

I sure have come a long way from the first posts when I was dabbling in Digital Scrapbooking Dec 2007.  Though Digi is easier & cheaper it sure couldn't replace my passion for working with my hands & making a mess (as my hubby says and I must admit by looking at my scrap room most of the time it's true lol).

As a longtime scrapbooker finding the internet communities has sparked my passion for creating like never before.  I just love the forums, galleries, & all of you.  It's amazing how many people I've "met" from all over the world.  I've enjoy the interaction & comments you all leave me.  You inspire me, uplift me & encourage me more than you will ever know.

Next week (14th - 18th) I will have daily posts for Growing in Unity - customer's creations showcasing Unity Stamps.  There may be some "rubber" prizes from Angela along with the inspiration so check back.

Now what you came for..... to celebrate my blogs 2nd Anniversary I promised some great prizes & thanks to the sponsors check out what the 6 winners will receive...

Winner #1 will receive compliments of Heather owner of Everything Scrapp'n this great prize package

Winner # 2 will receive compliments of Noell Hymanowner of Paperclipping an online instant download of the new Altered Books Tutorial - Paperclipping video "class" featuring the creative talents of Dedra Long (I have this video myself & have watched it numerous times - it's a must buy - I can't tell you how much I've learned from Dedra & Noell in the 3 segments)

Winner # 3 will receive compliments of Karen Modica at Tombow Adhesive variety of their most popular adhesives.  (Yes Tombow has now taken the place in my scraproom since Kokuyo has stopped making the dot & roller)

Winner #4 will recive compliments of Ana Cabrera director of online content at Scrapbook Trends is suprise goodie box.

Winner #5 will receive compliments of Lain Ehmann of Ella Publishing a suprise goodie box.

Winner #6 will recieve complments of ME a goodie box.

Winner #6 will also receive compliments of Terri Hayes lead designer for Webster's Pages this package of my favorite trims.

So now that you've seen the "booty" now what do you do to enter....

One Entry - Leave me a comment thanking our sponsors for their generosity & you'll be entered to win.

One Additional Entry for New Follower or Old Folllower - Leave additional comment saying your a follower

Additional Entries - post a link each time you spread the word using Twitter, Facebook, your blog, etc.  Just post another comment each time with a link that you "talk" about the contest.

All comments must be posted to this blog entry only to be counted.
Open to US residents only for shipped items (sorry shipping costs are too high out of the USA)

I'm not going to leave out the International readers... you're welcome to enter but only prize you will be eligible to win is the Altered Books Tutorial that can be downloaded from the internet so just state that you are outside of USA in your comment.

Winners will be drawn by random number generator - COMMENTS OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY DECEMBER 19TH, 2009

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One last thing......
Everything Scrapp'n is also looking for a January Guest Designer.... send in your application today as the deadline has been extended just for you to have a chance....  Here's the details:  Apply by emailing photos of your best layout and project to hgturner@everythingscrappn.com by December 14th to become our January Guest Design Team Member. Also, please provide your name, blog address, forums you frequent, and any special talents you think makes you sparkle.

Guest Designer spots are only open to those residing in the US. You would be required to create 2 layouts/projects due the 14th and 2 layouts/projects due the 28th using products from Everything Scrappn. The layouts/projects due the 14th you are free to create whatever inspires you. I would love to see projects created for the current season or upcoming holidays. The layouts/projects due on the 28th will be an assigned project for a contest or challenge for our blog readers. You will receive $15 gift certificate, free shipping, and a discount for other personal shopping items you would like for the month.

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Thanks for visiting!

National Scrapbooking Day!

There's so much going on everywhere....

Everything Scrapp'n is having a huge sale until midnight Saturday (Eastern USA time) Remember there are free gifts with a $25 order & for each additional $10 you spend the gift gets bigger. With orders over $100 you recieve an Everything Scrapp'n tote bag filled with goodies. To see a photo visit the Everything Scrapp'n Blog

Each of the designers is having a giveaway on their personal blogs. So visit each of us....

Theresa Matz
Zoa Barker
Janaina Oliveria
Michelle Jacquemet
Denise Martinez

My giveaway is a $10 gift certificate for the store. Leave a comment telling me what you are doing today for an entry.

I'm sorry I didn't draw the rest of the RAK winners yet. I got home later in the day than I thought & the weather isn't cooperating for photos right now & I want to document it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me today.

If you're doing the Unity Hip Hop Hangover the post is one below this one.

Please make sure if you entered any of my RAK contests you check the winners list in this post & contact me if you are a winner.

Have a wonderful creative day

Not enough hours in the day....

My scrap table and room is a bit of a mess from all the creating going on... I took some time to clean up last night because I just couldn't work any more looking at the mess. NSD week challenges galore out there.

Paperclipping.comis having an online crop this weekend. Prizes include a Premium Membership! (or you can get your own Premium Membership clicking the link on the right) Hope to see you over there in the forums. Terri Bradford is organizing it for Noell as she is busy making a minibook class video. I can't wait for that one since Dedra Long is showing tips of her beautiful minis that have been in many magazines & even Ali Edward's book. (that's a lot of name dropping lol)

If you want to join Paperclipping here is a coupon for a discount

For a limited time you can use coupon Code FF2E1 to receive $12.00 off a new Paperclipping Membership, bringing the price to only $30. If you choose to renew after the 6 month membership ends it is only $15.

I need to get some laundry & housework done today. I have a bunch of new garden photos I took over the weekend that need photoshopped & sent to Sams for printing.

Here's a layout for Stephanie Howell's Studio Calico contest.

Don't forget to leave a comment for another entry into my month long RAK contest for more details see this post If you haven't already done it sign up as a follower for more entries.

Pay it Forward.... RAK

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

While blog hopping today I was Inspired by Anna-Marie Still's post http://annamariestill.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/top-o-the-mornin.html#comments

She had a great idea for a RAK

The way it works is that the first five people who respond to this post, will recieve a handmade surprize from me! The catch is that you have to pay it forward, post this on your blog, and send out five handmade surprizes of your own. What a fun way to spread some Springtime cheer!

Here are the official instructions:"The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Made with tons of love just for you! It might be a fun hand-stamped project, a fun sewing project, or some yummy goodies, you might be surprised what you get! Give it a try! The catch? You must re -post this on your blog and the first 5 people to leave a comment, will win a lovely little treat from you! Have Fun!"

This could really take off... I hope you join in with us.

Spotlight Member

I've been enjoying hanging out at some smaller scrapbooking sites lately.

A favorite is Moments 2 Remember

I've had the honor of being chosen as the Spotlight Member of the Month.

http://moments-2-remember.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5670&p=60741#p60741

I also get the opportunity to post a challenge.

I hope you all come join in the fun as I've included a great RAK to the winner

http://moments-2-remember.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5691&p=60740#p60740

Note: RAK drawing March 31, 2009

Sassy Technique Challenge

I posted my first challenge over at Sassy today. Thanks so much to Tomie for posting some great ideas while I've been recovering - she is such a doll!

Please check it out & I hope you try the technique. I have a random draw RAK for all participants. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

http://sassycardsnscraps.freeforums.org/faux-chipboard-t730.html#6069

New challenges will be posted on Tuesdays.

I also have my Christmas Challenges going up on Wednesdays.

Come help us grow Sassy Cards n' Scraps into a fun & active place. Don't forget there are loads of prizes so participate in the Santa's Workshop for your chance to win!